mistress
Affair's other woman
A mistress is a woman in a position of authority or control—the mistress of a household manages its affairs.
The word parallels master but carries additional meanings master lacks.
A mistress is also a woman having an ongoing sexual relationship with a married man: He kept a mistress in the city.
In some contexts, mistress is an archaic or formal title for a woman, surviving in the abbreviations Mrs. and Ms.
Lover in secret affair
- inamorataWoman romantically adored
- belovedOne who is treasured
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
- consortRoyal spouse
companion · courtesan · concubine · flame · girlfriend · ladylove · amour · passion
Disloyalty to a partner
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- cheatingDeceptive rule-breaking
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- illicitProhibited by law
betrayal · extramarital · unfaithful · deception · scandal · homewrecker · fling · secret
Supreme authority held
- submissionYielding to another's will
- BDSMErotic power dynamics
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
- leatherTanned animal skin
whip · command · obedience · discipline · power exchange · fetish · kink · safeword
Formal address for women
- madameBrothel proprietress
- ma'amPolite term for women
- miladyFormal feminine address
- ladyCourteous term for woman
dame · mademoiselle · title · address · formal · proprietress · schoolmistress · headmistress
paramour
Lover in secret affair
- inamorataWoman romantically adored
- belovedOne who is treasured
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
consort · companion · courtesan · concubine · flame · girlfriend · ladylove · amour · passion · intimacy
infidelity
Disloyalty to a partner
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- cheatingDeceptive rule-breaking
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
illicit · betrayal · extramarital · unfaithful · deception · scandal · homewrecker · fling · secret · forbidden
domination
Supreme authority held
- submissionYielding to another's will
- BDSMErotic power dynamics
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
leather · whip · command · obedience · discipline · power exchange · fetish · kink · safeword · roleplay
madam
Formal address for women
lady · dame · mademoiselle · title · address · formal · proprietress · schoolmistress · headmistress · postmistress
housekeeper
Domestic cleaning professional
domestic · manor · estate · staff · butler · downstairs · Victorian · employ · household · chatelaine
expertise
Skill from extensive practice
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- accomplishedHighly skilled, expert
- adeptHighly capable, well-versed
virtuoso · command · craft · art · technique · skilled · fluency · talent
- marital problemsinfidelity, adultery, cheating, affair, divorce
- loverslover, lovers, beloved, sweethearts, sweetheart
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
- tabloidsNational Enquirer, TMZ, Daily Mail, People, Globe
- court positionschamberlain, lady-in-waiting, lady in waiting, courtier, equerry
- forbidden loveforbidden love, forbidden romance, illicit love, secret love, forbidden fruit
mistressservant
One employed to serve
slave · maid · subordinate · attendant · housekeeper
mistresswife
Female marriage partner
spouse · bride · husband · married woman · other woman
- cruel mistressPunishing object of devotion
- royal mistressMonarch's extramarital companion
- mistress of ceremoniesWoman who introduces performers
- wardrobe mistressTheater costume coordinator
- ballet mistressFemale dance company coach
- royal mistressesLovers of reigning sovereigns